Flywheel



June 28, 1949.

S. D. RUSSELL FLYWHEEL Filed July 8, 1947 INVENTOR. Stanley D Russell BY ahm d- 'fiflorflk k.

az iorneys Patented June 28, 1949 FLYWHEEL Stanley D. Russell, Racine,

Case Company, Racine, Wis., a company Wisconsin Wis., assignor to J. I. of

Application July 8, 1947, Serial No. 759,587

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a flywheel and more particularly to a flywheel in which the amount of metal required as the weighting material is substantially reduced.

In flywheel construction substantial weight be present in the structure in order that the flywheel may function properly. It has been considered desirable and even necessary to form flywheels entirely of metal to impart the desired weight. Such flywheels are expensive to produce because of the large amounts of metal required and are difficult to handle. Likewise shipping of flywheels having the desired flnalweight often involves considerable expense.

It is one object of this invention to provide a it is necessary that a -to permit a positioned. The rim flywheel construction in which substantial savings may be made in the amount of metal employed.-

A further object of this invention. is the provision of a relatively lightweight flywheel construction which may be filled with a set-hardenable substance by the ultimate user to produce a structure having the desired mass and balance.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a flywheel having a substantial portion of its weight imparted by a set-hardenable substance such as concrete.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a concrete filled flywheel wherein the concrete is firmly secured within the rim of the flywheel.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a flywheel having a substantial proportion of its mass imparted by a set-hardenable substance and which may readily be placed into final balance.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of means for firmly securing a weightimpa-rting set-hardenable substance within the rim of a flywheel.

Further and additional objects will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a flywheel is provided with comprises a hub, and a rim or main body portion circumferentially spaced therefrom, said rim. or main body portion, having a cavity into which a, sethardenable substance may be poured for adding weight to the flywheel. In one preferred form, the flywheel comprises a hub, a rim and spokes having channeled cross sections with the open faces thereof normal to the axis of the flywheel, a plurality of ribs bridging the spoke channels at the-ends thereof adjacent the rim whereby to provide a. continuousv rim channel discontinuous with the several spoke channels, means within the rim channel for securing a set-harden-able substance that may be poured thereinto, and means for securing a balancing weight to the flywheel within the channel of one of said spokes. The channel-subtending ribs may be positioned greater weight of the hardenable substance to be poured into the rim channel on the side diametrically opposed to the spoke to which the balancing weight securing means is channel is preferably provided with a plurality of projections around which the hardenable substance solidifies, thereby flrmly locking the set-hardenable substance within the rim channel. If desired, the rim channel may also be provided with a negative taper in order more firmly to hold the set-hardenabie substance within the rim channel.

The flywheel constructed as outlined above may be formed at a considerable saving of metal and the lightweight wheel may be conveniently handled and shipped. The ultimate user of the flywheel may add the desired weight thereto by pouring adesired set-hardenable material within th rim channel. ihis set-hardenable material is preferably concrete which may or may not be reinforced, but any other set-hardenable substance having the desired weight-imparting properties may be employed. For example, gypsum could be used under certain conditions, or if a substantial weight is desired, a molten metal such as molten lead may be used and allowed tov solidify or set-harden within the rim channel.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the flywheel constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view 2--2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing the rim channel having negatively tapered side walls.

The form of the present invention depicted in taken along the line the accompanying drawing comprises an inte grally cast flywheel having a hub H], spokes I2 5211, I212 and E20 and the outer M. The spokes and the rim have channeled cross sections,

thereby providing increased strength for the spokes and means within the rim for retaining a set-hardenable material such as concrete L81. the spoke and rim channelsbeing open in a plane normal to the axis of the flywheel.

The hub it is provided with a central aperture 18 forjournaling the flywheel toany desired shaft (not shown) of an engine and having associated therewith a slot 20 and an inner groove 22 for keying the flywheel to the shaft by any suitable means (not shown). A plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 integral with the hub and extending radially thereof form an integral portion of the channeled side walls of the spokes and serve to reinforce the spokes. One of the spokes, 12a, is provided with an integral apertured means 26 for securing one end of an engine drive shaft (not shown). Two of the other spokes, 12b and H10, are provided with a plurality of apertures 28 which may be used for securing slotted balancing weights (one of which is shown on spoke 21) by dotted lines at 30) within the channel of the spokes.

Adjacent the outer ends of the channeled spokes are provided ribs 32 and 32a which bridge the side walls of the spoke channels and are integral therewith. These ribs form a portion of the inner side walls of the rim channel 34, said rim channel being discontinuous with the several spoke channels. As shown in the drawings, the ribs 32a on the spokes l2b and l2c having the apertures for the weight-balancing means extend into the rim channel 34 and the ribs 32 on the spokes l2 and Ho diametrically opposite the apertures for the weight-balancing means are spaced towards the hub from the ends of the spokes. The side walls of the rim cavity or channel 34 are provided with a number of conical projections or lugs 38 which serve to lock the set-hardenable substance Within the channel.

A feature of this invention is that the flywheel structure described above may be integrally cast and shipped without the set-hardenable substance to the ultimate user with a minimum of expense; Prior to use the rim channel 34 of the flywheel is filled with concrete or other set-hardenable substance and allowed to harden. If desired, the concrete may be reinforced by suitable means such as a pair of iron rings 36 embedded therein. It will be noted that the lugs or projections 38 will also be embedded in the set-hardenable substance and serve to hold it firmly in place within the flywheel rim. If desired, and as shown in Fig. 3, the side walls of the rim channel or cavity .34 may be provided with a negative taper in order more firmly t hold the set-hardenable substance.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a relatively lightweight, integrally cast structure has been provided which may be readily shipped or otherwise transported to the ultimate user. Any desired weight may be imparted to the flywheel at the point of installation by controlling the amounts and densities of the set-hardenable sub stance that is poured into the rim cavity. After the pouring has been effected and the substance has been allowed to harden, it will be noted that by virtue of the positioning of the ribs 32 and 3211. the flwyheel will be somewhat heavier on the side opposite the spokes 12b and I20 carrying the apertures 28. In order to offset this, suitable weightbalancing devices may be secured within the channels of certain of the spokes by means of the apertures '28. If desired, these weights may be longitudinally slotted so that they may be adjustable to permit accurate balancing of the flywheel. If desired, the apertures 28 may be in the form of radially extending slots. Abutments 40 may be provided on the hub to limit the movement of the weight-balancing means within the spoke channel 12b and [20.

The set-hardenable substance is firmly retained within the rim cavity by means of the projecting members or lugs 38. The outside wall of the rim channel integral with the flywheel retains the material and prevents centrifugal force from throwing it from the surface of the wheel when in use. In the embodiment shown, the concrete is poured only into the rim channel, the spoke channels not being filled. The side Walls of the spoke channels and the ribs 24 serve to strengthen the flywheel. Likewise bridges 32 and 32a serve as strengthening means and in addition retain the freshly poured set-hardenable material within the rim channel.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A flywheel comprising a hub, a rim and spokes having channeled cross sections with the open faces thereof normal to the axis of the flywheel, a plurality of ribs bridging the spoke channels at the ends thereof adjacent the rim whereby to provide a continuous rim channel discontinuous with the several spoke channels, means within the rim channel for securing a hardenable substance that may be poured thereinto, and means for securing a balancing weight to the flywheel within the channel of one of said spokes, said ribs being positioned to permit a greater weight of the hardenable substance to be poured into the rim channel on the side of the wheel opposite said one spoke then on the side of said one spoke.

2. A flywheel comprising a hub, a rim and spokes having channeled cross sections with the open faces thereof normal to the axis of the flywheel, a plurality of ribs bridging the spoke channels at the ends thereof adjacent the rim whereby to provide a continuous rim channel discontinuous with the several spoke channels, and means within the rim channel for securing a hardenable substance that may be poured thereinto, said means comprising the side walls of the rim channel provided with a negative taper.

3. A flywheel comprising a hub, a rim and spokes having channeled cross sections with the open faces thereof normal to the axis of the flywheel, and a plurality of ribs within said channels adjacent the outer ends of said spokes providing discontinuity between the rim channel and the channels within the several spokes, said rim channel being filled with a substance set-hardenable in situ.

4. The flywheel recited in claim 3 wherein said set-hardenable substance is reinforced concrete.

STANLEY D. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117,312 McGowan July 25, 1871 143,009 Gerner Sept. 23, 1873 210,633 Robertson Dec, 10, 1878 430,270 Cook June 17, 1890 1,233,485 Leblanc July 17, 1917 1,235,153 Osaki July 31, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 396,257 Germany May 28, 1924 

